ProfessorRobert Ewers
Professor of Ecology
Department of Life Sciences (Silwood Park) - Faculty of Natural Sciences
Orcid identifier0000-0002-9001-0610 (opens in a new tab)
- Professor of EcologyDepartment of Life Sciences (Silwood Park) - Faculty of Natural Sciences
- 020 7594 2223 (Work)
- 1.4, Centre for Population Biology, Silwood Park, United Kingdom
RESEARCH
Overview
My research team is leading the development of a Virtual Ecosystem that will simulate the birth, growth, reproduction and death of every individual plant and animal in a tropical rainforest ecosystem, along with the dynamics of microbial communities and the associated biogeochemistry of nutrient, water and energy cycling. The goal is to replicate all of the key physiological, biological and physical components of the ecosystem, and their interactions, with a view to understanding system-level emergent properties.
I am particularly interested in the development of novel technologies for automated monitoring of biodiversity and the environment. Our research team created the BUGG ecoacoustic monitoring system, and lead the application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques to extract meaningful information from acoustic data. We also use UAV-derived image analysis to monitor Orang utans and forest phenology, and field-test mobile phone apps for rapid collection of environmental data.
We conduct empirical research on a diverse range of ecological patterns and processes, primarily in the tropical rainforests of the SAFE Project and the temperate woodlands of Silwood Park. We collect and analyse data on a wide range of taxa encompassing small and large mammals, reptiles, fish, beetles, mosquitoes, ants and trees. We conduct experiments and monitoring of an equally diverse set of ecological and physical processes, including carbon and tree dynamics, wood and litter decomposition, hydrology, microclimate, animal movement, species interactions, insect development rates and invertebrate ecophysiology.
My research team is leading the development of a Virtual Ecosystem that will simulate the birth, growth, reproduction and death of every individual plant and animal in a tropical rainforest ecosystem, along with the dynamics of microbial communities and the associated biogeochemistry of nutrient, water and energy cycling. The goal is to replicate all of the key physiological, biological and physical components of the ecosystem, and their interactions, with a view to understanding system-level emergent properties.
I am particularly interested in the development of novel technologies for automated monitoring of biodiversity and the environment. Our research team created the BUGG ecoacoustic monitoring system, and lead the application of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques to extract meaningful information from acoustic data. We also use UAV-derived image analysis to monitor Orang utans and forest phenology, and field-test mobile phone apps for rapid collection of environmental data.
We conduct empirical research on a diverse range of ecological patterns and processes, primarily in the tropical rainforests of the SAFE Project and the temperate woodlands of Silwood Park. We collect and analyse data on a wide range of taxa encompassing small and large mammals, reptiles, fish, beetles, mosquitoes, ants and trees. We conduct experiments and monitoring of an equally diverse set of ecological and physical processes, including carbon and tree dynamics, wood and litter decomposition, hydrology, microclimate, animal movement, species interactions, insect development rates and invertebrate ecophysiology.